Lone Rock, Tizamagician Lock Horns in 1 5/8-Mile TAA

Coach Robertino Diodoro claimed Lone Rock  at Saratoga Race Course in 2020 and ran him as soon as on the Spa earlier than coach Invoice Mott claimed the gelding again for $40,000 at Keeneland. Regardless of that brief period of time beneath Diodoro’s care final yr, the now 6-year-old gelding made an impression on the coach, who did not hesitate to drop one other slip in for Lone Rock when the son of Majestic Warrior  lined up for $40,000 in his next start at Churchill Downs.

Lone Rock hasn’t run for a tag since. Owned by Flying P Steady and R. A. Hill Steady, Lone Rock has strung collectively 5 wins from seven begins since rejoining the Diodoro shedrow a yr in the past, with three of these victories being in stakes firm. A route specialist, Lone Rock notched the most important win of his profession when annihilating the sphere by 11 1/4 lengths within the 1 1/2 mile Brooklyn Stakes Offered by Northwell Well being (G2) on Belmont Stakes Day. The distant runner-up that June afternoon was the Richard Mandella-trained Tizamagician , another top stayer who will be out to turn the tables on Lone Rock in the $250,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Nov. 6.

Formerly known as the Breeders’ Cup Marathon, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes is one of the few 1 5/8-mile stakes events in the country. With the retirement of the race’s two-time winner Rocketry  earlier in the year, the race’s title appears to boil down to a match-up between Lone Rock and Tizamagician.

Lone Rock added a romp in the Aug. 5 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga and a game second-place effort in the Sept. 18 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park after his Brooklyn tour de pressure. The slender 6-5 morning-line favourite within the area of seven, Lone Rock will carry the highest weight of 126 kilos and be ridden by his regular companion, jockey Ramon Vazquez.

Lone Rock’s conquerer within the Grand Prix American Jockey Membership, Locally Owned , is also owned by Flying P Stable. The 5-year-old Distorted Humor   gelding was claimed by trainer Tom Morley for $40,000 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots back in February. He joins the field as the 6-1 third choice in the TAA Stakes on the heels of his upset victory.

Tizamagician, a placing charcoal-colored Tiznow  colt, stamped himself as one of the early top contenders for the TAA Stakes when cruising to a nine-length triumph in the April 18 Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. After his defeat to Lone Rock within the Brooklyn, the 4-year-old captured the July 18 Cougar II Stakes (G3) over the Del Mar oval adopted by a strong second to Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1) starter Tripoli  in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1). Cut back to 1 1/8 miles in the Oct. 2 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), the faster pace of the shorter trip took the finishing punch away from Tizamagician, and he could only manage fifth behind Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) victor Medina Spirit  at Santa Anita.

Trainer Peter Miller enters a pair with Cupid’s Claws , the 2020 Tokyo City Cup winner, and recent Fresno stakes winner Zestful . Recent winners Hapi Hapi  and Mad Grace  complete the field.